#THE WHITE PHOSPHORUS MATCHES PROHIBITION ACT, 1913 
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##ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 
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SECTIONS 

1. Short title, extent and commencement. 
2. Definition. 
3. [Repealed.]. 
4. Prohibition of use of white phosphorus in manufacture of matches. 
5. Power of Inspector of Factories to take samples of material used in manufacture. 
6. Prohibition of sale. 
 
 
 
#THE WHITE PHOSPHORUS MATCHES PROHIBITION ACT, 1913 

##ACT NO. 5 OF 1913 

[7th March,1913.] 

An Act to prohibit the importation, manufacture and sale of matches made with white phosphorus. 

  WHEREAS it is expedient to prohibit the importation, manufacture and sale of matches made with white 
phosphorus; It is hereby enacted as follows:— 

1. **Short title, extent and commencement.**—(1) This Act may be called the White Phosphorus Matches 
Prohibition Act, 1913. 

(2) It extends to the whole of India except the territories which, immediately before the 1st November, 
1956, were comprised in Part B States; and 

(3) It shall come into force on the first day of July, 1913,  with the exception of section 6, which shall 
come into force on the first day of July, 1914. 

2. **Definition.**—In  this  Act,  “white  phosphorus”  means  the  substance  commonly  known  as  white  or 
yellow phosphorus. 

3. *[Prohibition of importation by addition to section 18, Act 8 of 1878.] Rep. by the Repealing Act, 1938 
(1 of 1938), s. 2 and the Schedule.*

4. **Prohibition of use of white phosphorus in manufacture of matches.**—(1) No person shall use white 
phosphorus in the manufacture of matches. 

(2) Any person who uses, or permits the use by any person under his control of, white phosphorus in the 
manufacture of matches, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees. 

5. **Power of Inspector of Factories to take samples of material used in manufacture.**—(1)  Every 
person who manufactures matches shall allow an Inspector of Factories appointed under the Indian Factories 
Act, 1911[^1] (12 of 1911), at any time to take for analysis sufficient samples of any material in use or mixed for 
use, in such manufacture: 

  Provided  that  any  such  person  may,  at  the  time  the  sample  is  taken,  and  on  providing  the  necessary 
appliances, require the Inspector to divide the sample so taken into two parts, and to mark, seal and deliver to 
him one part. 

  (2) Any person who refuses to permit any such Inspector of Factories as aforesaid to take a sample, in 
accordance  with  the  provisions  of  sub-section  (1),  shall  be  punishable  with  fine  which  may  extend  to  two 
hundred rupees. 

6. **Prohibition of sale.**—(1) No person shall sell, or offer or expose for sale, or have in his possession for 
the purposes of sale, any matches made with white phosphorus. 

(2) Any  person  who  contravenes  the  provisions  of  sub-section  (1)  may,  on  complaint  to  a  Presidency 
Magistrate, Sub-divisional Magistrate or Magistrate of the first class, be ordered to forfeit any such matches 
in his possession, and any matches so forfeited shall be destroyed or otherwise dealt with as the Magistrate 
may direct. 



[^1]. See now the Factories Act, 1948 (63 of 1945). 